Back in the beginning of March, my favourite dress company, Pin Up Girl Clothing had a mad sale on. They are very well know for doing their Online Yard Sales (OYS), where items can be reduced by as much as 60%

Now, I had my eye on a couple of little numbers, that I have lusted over for quite awhile. So, as soon as I saw the Email, I had to have them!

My first choice may seem a bit of a strange one. I have talked about my Malibu Tiki dress with matching Bolero before. I have it in the Purple and Green colour way, and also the Blue and Burgundy version. Both dresses are fabulous and I wear them often. They have graced vintage events, dances, lunches out and even the supermarket. Dressed up or down, I really love this style of dress.

Pin Up Girl also do a Red and Orange one……

Well, it would be silly not to have my favourite dress in ALL the colours, wouldn’t it?

Of course, that is exactly what I told myself! So into the basket it went.

My second dress was a lovely satin number that I had been looking at for about 18 months now. The Ava in Spanish Rose Print.

Now, have I have never so much as even tried an Ava on, so it was a bit of a risk ordering one. But when the price is so greatly reduced I had to give it a go!

The reason I keep an eye out for OYS is that the prices are just too good to miss out on. The Malibu Tiki dress was originally $140, but was only $60. The Ava down from $114 to $60. This means I got 2 dresses for less than the cost of the first one! Can’t really grumble at that.

Having a wonderful friend in Chicago, I had the dresses sent to him (free US Shipping) as he was due to be coming back to the UK in May, and would bring them across. Unfortunately that plan went a bit astray, and so he very kindly sent them via International post to me.

Now, of course when you import things in from the USA you do get hit with import duties and/or VAT. These are calculated on how much you have spent in the first place, so again another reason to use their OYS special events.

Import duty is payable on goods over the value of $130, So I was fortunate to not have to pay the duty. However I still got hit a little as the VAT was only around £11 , but then I got hit with £12 by the delivery company in the form of a prepayment charge. This still makes the dresses totally viable, as the two came to only £84.

So, whats my verdict? Well, of course I knew I would absolutely love the Red and Orange Tiki dress. I just need to get some accessories and flowers to match it, and I will be set.

As for the Ava, I wore it that night to celebrate my 42nd birthday at a local restaurant. The dress is so beautifully made, of a lovely fluid satin fabric, with a little stretch.

The dress itself does up at the back with an invisible zip, and then you have the slightly strange extra long wrap belt/sash affair.

Now, I have to confess I was a little unsure how this needed to be done up, to start with. I had tried it a couple of ways, but being satin, it was slipping out of any knot or loop I tried.

Thankfully the wonderful Sarah over at Plus Size and Proud sent me a little Youtube video with a demo from the ever wonderful Micheline Pitt, showing you exactly how to do it.

It really was more simple than I had made it!

Going out for a meal whilst wearing my brand new dress felt like an extra special occasion, mainly because this dress makes you feel special. I teamed up the dress with just a pair of little black Debenhams kitten heels, and my Ewa Michalak Tanya Harness bra, that was made for me on a previous adventure (read all about it here)

This dress really has a luxurious feel to it and is such a striking print that I didn’t feel any accessories were needed. It was comfortable to wear, without it being a casual outfit. In fact, I can’t wait to wear it out again soon!

I know the Ava dress comes in several different colours and patterns including some dainty pastel florals. I don’t think this will be the last Ava that I order….

I just need another Online Yard Sale!!!

Till next time,
Tx